The Belgian Malinois is a medium-sized dog with a solid, muscular build. They were originally bred as herding dogs so they have an innate sense of direction, intelligence, and willingness to work which makes them perfect for working in the military, law enforcement agencies for drug detection, and search and rescue operations.

The Belgian Malinois has a thick, dense coat. Their solid coat comes in a variety of colors but is most common in black, brown, white, gray, or tan. The coat can be either short or long.

This article will outline everything you need to know about Belgian Malinois grooming.

How To Groom a Belgian Malinois? 

Grooming your Belgian Malinois is an important aspect of keeping your dog healthy and happy. Belgian Malinois’ should be groomed at least once a week to prevent matting and keep their coat healthy.

Here is how to groom a Belgian Malinois in 9 steps:

1. Trim the dog’s nails with clippers or nail scissors. Trimming your Belgian Malinois nails will prevent them from splitting and cracking, which can lead to infection. Use a nail clipper designed for dogs.
2. Brush the dog’s coat with a slicker brush to remove dirt and tangles. For dogs who have longer coats, use a brush with bristles that are made for dogs with thick, long coats.
3. Brush your Belgian Malinois teeth with vet-approved toothpaste. Brushing the teeth should be done at least three times a week.
4. After brushing the coat, comb it with a metal comb to smoothen the mats and knots.
5. Trim the hair around the eyes and ears with scissors. Trim the hair on the back of the neck and the feet with electric shears.
6. Bathe the dog using good-quality shampoo and conditioner.
7. After bathing, gently dry your puppy with a towel or blow dryer.
8. Check and clean the ears using an ear cleaning solution or ear wipes. Also, do not forget to check for ear infections.
9. Clean the paws with cotton balls dipped in vinegar or peroxide solution followed by drying them off for about 10 minutes before applying paw balm.

How Often Should You Groom Your Dog?

The Belgian Malinois requires regular grooming. The amount of time you should spend grooming your Belgian Malinois depends on the dog’s coat type and length.

Coat Type

The coat type of a Belgian Malinois can vary from smooth to rough. If your dog has a smooth coat, you should groom them at least twice a week. If they have a rough coat, you should groom them at least once a week.

Length

A Belgian Malinois with long hair should be groomed at least once every two weeks. If they have short hair, then they can get away with being groomed about once every three months or less often depending on their activity level and the length of their hair.

To know more about how to minimize your dog’s shedding, check out our other article on Do Belgian Malinois Shed?

What Tools Do You Need for Grooming Your Dog?

In this section, we will explore the tools you need for grooming your Belgian Malinois.

Brushes

Brushes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some brushes are designed for specific purposes, such as slicker brushes that are used to smooth the coat or rake brushes that are used to remove mats and tangles.

Clippers

Clippers come in different sizes and shapes. They can be corded or cordless, which is an important consideration if you want to groom your dog outside or if you don’t want your dog to get tangled up in a cord while they’re running around.

Nail clippers come in a variety of different shapes and sizes to accommodate all types of nail-cutting needs. They can be tiny to clip fingernails or they can be large for trimming thick toenails.

Comb

There are a variety of combs you can choose to groom your Belgian Malinois such as metal comb and curry comb. The best way to comb your dog is to take your fingers and gently slide them along the knot, pulling it in one direction.

Dog Shampoo and Conditioner

Consult with your vet when choosing the right shampoo and conditioner for your dog. They can recommend products that are designed to be safe and gentle on a dog’s coat and skin.

Toothpaste And Toothbrush

Pets can be prone to bad breath, plaque buildup, and bacterial growth. With the right kind of toothpaste and toothbrush for your dog, you can brush their teeth to prevent such health issues.

Conclusion

Dog grooming is an important part of pet care. Grooming your Belgian Malinois is essential to their health and safety. Removing the excess hair and dirt that they track into the house is not only a matter of hygiene but also a preventative measure against ticks and parasites. Grooming also provides a way to bond with your pet. And it can help you identify any health problems that your dog may be experiencing.

Thank you for reading the article.

To explore more about the breed, check out other articles that we have covered on the Belgian Malinois.

How do you care for your dog? How often do you groom them? Do you follow all the steps that we have mentioned above? We would love to hear from you. Please share with our community by leaving a comment below!